Worldly Chatter

Wat zeg je? Ik snap je maar heel langzaam praat! Ik kan, ik kan en ik kan! Ik wil nederlands leren en ik moet spreek meer! However, I don’t! What did you say? I understand you but speak slow! I can, I can and I can! I want to learn Dutch and must speak more! That is what I said to you in Dutch. Ik wil kop koffie en een brootje gezond. I want a cup of coffee and a healthy sandwich. (Yes, they call it a healthy sandwich.)

Why do I write all this… and none of it make sense? I write this because I have to kick myself in the ass. I DO know words darn it all and I CAN follow some yet what do I do? I get stupid and I get shy and fumble my words until I have spit on myself or have said absolutely nothing at all! Why is this? Why do I stumble? Why do I get so shy! I know there are people who will say I have always been shy so it is nothing new but it has to stop! Really, it does now! Therefore, I ramble to my readers. I put my shame and foolishness out there for all to see! Why do this? Because I have decided to do something and so here it is.

I write five days a week on my expat life and travel yet I rarely touch on language. I rarely tell you of my troubles and I rarely mention the language I am engulfed in everyday. I go to the store and when they tell me the total in Dutch, I fully understand and pay up. I know how to ask for stuff and I know how to read things at the store. I can read a menu and order for myself. It isn’t hard so long as you know the words right. Dutchie has seen me do it! She actually finds it neat the way I speak Dutch, with my American accent and all.

So this is what I am going to do. I am going to do one piece a week entirely on language. The Dutch language, how the Dutch use English or even the German language, Polish is also something I hear regularly now. I will devote one entry a week to language. This way I am forced to confront it, my foolishness, my shyness, whatever you want to call it, I will confront it! I will also use the Dutch language on it. (you are warned!) Show some progress and maybe even teach you a word or two! Hope you don’t mind now because this is the plan and I am sticking to it! Doei! (bye!)
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worldy chatter, Dutch language, Nederlandse taal